Mass outpouring for Pomona police officer who died after being shot by barricaded man

The shooting death of a Pomona police officer is discussed by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Capt. Christopher Bergner at a press briefing Saturday morning in Pomona.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF)

Casillas' body was escorted from Pomona Valley Hospital to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner on Saturday morning. Hundreds watched a live feed of the somber procession on Los Angeles news station ABC7's Facebook page.

Numerous comments on Facebook voiced both sympathy and support for Casillas' family and the Pomona Police Department after people watched the incident unfold.

"I live with my three children around the corner in view of the command center," Leslie Riley wrote. "When I came home and saw the street blocked my heart dropped because my son was home alone. My relief at seeing my son safe at home soon turned to sadness when I learned that one officer had died and another was wounded. This is so close to home — we are the people protected and served. So heartbroken for the families."

Many of the posts offered prayers for the officers and families involved.

"My heart goes out to the fallen officer’s loved ones and the entire PPD family," Steve Lustro wrote in a Facebook comment. "Keeping the injured officer in my prayers and hoping for a speedy recovery."

The shooting took place shortly after 9 p.m. Friday following a vehicle pursuit, officials said.

Officers had initially responded to a report of a person driving recklessly, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the incident. When police tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver did not stop, launching a pursuit.

The man crashed into a parked vehicle before fleeing on foot, sheriff's officials reported. During the foot pursuit, he fled into an apartment complex in the 1400 block of South Palomares Street and barricaded himself in a bedroom.

After two Pomona police officers were shot Friday night during a barricade, members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's special weapons and crisis negotiations teams responded early Saturday. One of the officers later died.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF)

The two officers followed the man and tried to make contact with him, sheriff's Capt. Christopher Bergner told reporters during a press briefing Saturday morning.

"He then began firing through the door," striking both officers, Bergner said.

A motive has not been identified.

Pomona is a city of about 149,000 people north of Chino in eastern Los Angeles County.

Ventura County Star reporter Gretchen Wenner also contributed to this report.